Threats to Pakistani journalists don't let up

In the last few days, messages from two journalists in
Pakistan have made me realize that I can't turn away from publicizing the
threats they are facing, because they just keep coming.

The most recent is from Wajahat Khan, host of the political
interview show "Ikhtilaf," on Aaj TV in Islamabad. His account of threats of "beheading,
bestiality, torture, and other such comforts of wrath" as he wryly puts it,
started coming while his most recent show was being re-aired on Saturday. On
air he had been pushing Lt. Gen. Hameed Gul -- who works with the conservative
Difa-e-Pakistan Council, a political bloc of conservative religious parties,
some with links to militant groups -- when some viewers felt he had gone too
far. I'm going to take the liberty of lifting two paragraphs from his story,
about the start of the threats, but you should read Khan's full, riveting account
on The Express Tribune's website, "Journalism
under threat: Jihad, lies and video tape:"

He didn't say hello. He knew my name and my address. He kept
it short, and told me exactly what he would do to my body parts when he was
done detaching them. He then hung up. That was caller one.

But that was just the bad cop routine. The good cops,
several of them, came knocking with a flurry of text messages. One of them
started off by asking why I was siding with India. My reply was that I was not
siding with any collective, and in fact had brought up the disturbing statistic
of India's arms expenditures with Gul, asking the former ISI chief what he and
the DPC were doing besides screaming murder about matching the $100 billion
dollars that the Indians plan on weapons-procurement spending over the next
decade. He pinged back after a few minutes, concentrating his grammar on the
imaginings between my mother and some animals. The other good cops started in
similar vein, one of them asking me whether I had learnt my English in America.
Seeing where this could lead to, I didn't respond. That action further lit up
my afternoon, as references to pre-Islamic debauchery, disasters and disease
continued to flash on my phone. No names were offered, but when my address and
location was confirmed, again and again, I pressed the panic button.

The other story came in a string of emails over the last few
days from Ghulamuddin, Samaa TV's senior news producer. He, with his partner
Mohammad Aatif Khan, on December 13 broke the story of boys and young men
being held in chains at a religious school near Karachi, as seen on this YouTube video. Since their
footage aired, they have come under near constant threat. I had blogged about
it on December 27, in "'Where
is the state?' asks Pakistani journalist under threat," and mentioned them
a few other times when discussing other threat cases. I pointed out that while
more prominent journalists get a lot of support, those less prominent do not.
These two men and their wives and children are moving from place to place in
Pakistan, seeking some sort of safe haven. Ghulamuddin sent what I have to call,
without being overly dramatic, a Chronology of Intimidation that has continued
up until now. CPJ and other media support groups inside and outside Pakistan
are working to help them, but here is what the lives of two reporters who dared
to break a story have been like since:

December 13, 2011:
Our exclusive report on "students held in chains" at Dar-ul-Uloom Kandholi
Karachi was broadcast on SAMAA TV by 2100 GMT. Mr. Ghulamuddin, Sr. Producer/Investigative
Journalist and Mr. Mohammad Aatif Khan, Associate Producer/Investigative
Journalist are receiving death threats for unearthing the brutalities being
perpetrated by Mufti Dawood and his accomplice. Taking action authorities
rescued 68 chained students from the basement, dozens of kids were also
recovered from a separate room and Qari Usman arrested but Mutif Dawood
succeeded in fleeing with his associates.

December 14, 2011:
At 22:51 GMT, I escaped along [with] my wife Tasleem Bano and little kid Hayyan
Shah Alisher whilst returning from market after buying stuff to relocate.
During the whole week suspected groups threatened my family members and
neighbors for not disclosing [our] whereabouts.

December 29, 2011:
I flew to my hometown Gilgit with family. The wave of sectarian riots, target
killing, communication barriers, and mighty weather increased the stress.
Analyzing the plights, journalist circles, friends, and family members
suggested [we] leave for Islamabad as early as possible.

January 17, 2012:
I managed to come to Islamabad and I am confined with family at an unknown
location. Militants are closely monitoring my residence in Karachi and
desperately searching to take revenge.

January 5, 2012:
Aatif went [to] his Gulshan-e-Iqbal residence to collect luggage. A group of
militants carrying guns, iron rods, and batons attacked his home. Fortunately,
the steel gate was locked from inside and he remained safe. It is ironical that
cars [of] Aatif's parents were being followed...which compelled them to leave
their own house.

January 30, 2012:
Parents of Aatif Khan returned home after 15 days of confinement. Very next
day, two suspected persons knocked [at] their door and asked his father in a
belligerent tone about Aatif Khan. After failing to acquire satisfactory
answer, they left his home saying "We'll take him to task."

February 8, 2012:
Four militants equipped with guns visited Aatif's residence again and enquired
from his father. He (Mohammad Arif Khan) replied [as] not having any contact
with his son. "They threatened to trace and kill him."

February 10: I
contacted Aatif's parents and suggested [they] leave their residence once again
until situation gets normal. In past we have been facing reactions and threats
from various segments for uncovering corruption, mismanagement, and social
issues. Journalist Community is vulnerable at every front -- extremist groups,
political pressures, security agencies and mafias. In the existing situation,
it seems very dangerous to resume our professional duties anywhere in Pakistan.

Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk.